As the world's leading provider of confidential insider information from 1979 to 2000, Auto Industry Newsletter has now re-emerged by popular request to provide chief executives with the insight necessary to meet today's challenges.
Editor: John Mortimer

Tuesday, 30 December 2014

In the heady world of North American Class 8 trucks, for the likes of
Cummins, Eaton and Meritor, life is a constant battle (in engines,
transmissions and axles) against the forces of vertical integration that are steadily
being imposed by European-controlled OEMs.

Both Hyundai and Kia must have done some serious benchmarking exercises of
European medium and upper-end passenger cars to be able to determine where the
epicentre of ride and handling expertise can be found.

In the same way
that production of castings at 5565 Brookville Road, Indianapolis, Indiana ends
in 2015 (see next news story), so too will Ford Motor Company end its Blue Diamond truck-making joint venture with
Navistar.

Navistar
International’s chief executive officer, Troy Clarke, continues to comb through
the beleaguered company’s business in search of any area where he can cut
costs. And his latest move brings no Christmas cheer for some employees.

Wednesday, 10 December 2014

Florida State
University, University of Michigan and Coherixare
collaborating with a major automotive OEM to optimize the machining parameters
for the new compacted graphite iron (CGI) engine blocks going into their new
trucks.